Mini Hippo Family Christmas Recipes

Mini Hippo Family Christmas Recipes

‘Tis the season for family and food. So, we here at Mini Hippo are diving head first into our family archives and digging up treasured Christmas recipes to share with you. Give them a read, and let us know if you try them yourself this silly season!

Megan: Mum’s Plum Pudding

Ingredients

340g (2 cups) sultanas

170g (1 cup) flame raisins

155g (1 cup) currants

150g (1 cup) finely chopped pitted dates

1 x 100g pkt red glace cherries, finely chopped

95g (1/2 cup) mixed peel

1 tablespoon finely grated orange rind

250ml (1 cup) brandy

Melted butter, to grease

250g butter, at room temperature

100g (1/2 cup, firmly packed) brown sugar

4 eggs

245g (3 1/2 cups) fresh breadcrumbs (made from day-old bread)

75g (1/2 cup) plain flour

1 tablespoon mixed spice

Method

Combine sultanas, raisins, currants, dates, cherries, mixed peel and orange rind in a heatproof bowl. Place brandy in a saucepan over high heat and bring to the boil. Pour the hot brandy over the dried-fruit mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside for 1 hour to soak.

Brush Weanmeister freezer pods with melted butter to grease.

Use an electric beater to beat the butter and sugar in a bowl until pale and creamy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, until combined. Add to the dried-fruit mixture and stir to combine. Add breadcrumbs, flour and mixed spice and stir to combine. Spoon into Weanmeister freezer pods and smooth surface.

Place an upside-down saucer into a pot with some water and sit the pods on top to steam. Cover with a lid and simmer over medium-low heat, adding more boiling water when necessary, for 5 hours or until a skewer inserted into centre of pudding comes out clean.

Belinda: Grandma Glindemann’s famous Christmas punch

Ingredients

1lb (about 45g) sugar

1/2 pint (about 236ml) water

1/2 pint (about 236ml) freshly-made tea

1 pint (about 473ml) Fruit Cup cordial

1/2 pint(about 236ml) lemon juice

1 pint (about 473ml) orange juice

1 pint (about 473ml) canned pineapple juice

3 bottles soda water

6 pints (about 2.83L) iced water

Method

Boil sugar and water together for 5 minutes. Add cooled tea, cordial and all juices. This forms the punch base and can be made ahead of time.

Cut each cake in half through the middle. Place one layer of cake in a trifle bowl, blush with liquor, smear with jam. Place fruit as you with or around edges. Cover with custard. Add another layer of cake. Repeat.